Houzz Tour: A Sloping Site Creates Spacious Split-Level Living
By embracing the challenge of a narrow, sloping, south-facing site, this contemporary Melbourne home capitalises on surrounding views
A property site can present a vast number of challenges as well as opportunities, and it’s the architect’s job to work within the framework of the challenges while taking advantage of the opportunities. K2LD Architects and Interiors designed this four-bedroom family home in Northcote, Melbourne, to do just that.
“Faced with the challenges of a narrow, sloping, south-facing site, but presented with the opportunities of magnificent city views, we focused on maximising natural light and an Australian materials palette to set the scene for the owners’ passion for cooking and entertaining,” says architect Tisha Lee.
“Faced with the challenges of a narrow, sloping, south-facing site, but presented with the opportunities of magnificent city views, we focused on maximising natural light and an Australian materials palette to set the scene for the owners’ passion for cooking and entertaining,” says architect Tisha Lee.
Wanting to harmonise with the neighbouring houses, which are predominantly single-storey presentations to the street, K2LD responded with a low-lying street frontage that cleverly conceals light-filled living spaces. “The sunken, low-lying form is composed of two ‘L’ elements,” says Lee. “The lower concrete plinth and the upper timber sunshade together echoing the verandah of the Victorian cottage that previously occupied the site,” the designer explains.
The architects then sunk the rear of the house into the sloping site. “It offered the opportunity of burying the home theatre and wine cellar, where no natural light was desired, in the hillside,” says Lee. Repeated detailing and materials help to create a seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces.
The entrance of the house opens to a central courtyard, which has proved to be one of the family’s favourite spaces. The courtyard separates the kids’ area from the parents’ retreat, which has a master bedroom, ensuite, and open walk-in-wardrobe.
A courtyard brings light into the house, as it features a section of glazed flooring which serves as a skylight to the kitchen below.
Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso: Hub Furniture
A courtyard brings light into the house, as it features a section of glazed flooring which serves as a skylight to the kitchen below.
Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso: Hub Furniture
The kids’ retreat, as Lee calls it, has three bedrooms, a bathroom and a rumpus room for the children to play in.
A wide staircase connects the entrance and bedrooms to the living area, which enjoys soaring 6.5-metre-high ceilings and full-length windows for expansive city views.
The lower level accommodates an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space that opens to the rear garden, as well as a home theatre, wine cellar, powder room and laundry.
Lowland Sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso: Hub Furniture; Doda High Armchair by Ferruccio Laviani for Molteni: Hub Furniture
Lowland Sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso: Hub Furniture; Doda High Armchair by Ferruccio Laviani for Molteni: Hub Furniture
The master suite, clad in timber, spectacularly cantilevers over the living space and features a ribbon window that provides views via the living space’s glass walls.
“Timber is used internally and externally,” says Lee, who favoured blackbutt featuring mitred joints and finished with Cutek oil. “It’s used for the sun shades and cladding through to the timber battens that wrap around the master suite,” she adds.
The owners of the house are avid entertainers and desired a central cooking space that still offered views of the city. Positioned behind the living area, the kitchen is crisp and sophisticated.
Kitchen benchtop in ‘Vanilla’: Smartstone; joinery benchtop in ‘Raven’: Caesarstone; timber veneer: Finewood Ventech
Kitchen benchtop in ‘Vanilla’: Smartstone; joinery benchtop in ‘Raven’: Caesarstone; timber veneer: Finewood Ventech
Polished aggregate concrete floors are also used throughout the house for a smart contemporary look.
Concrete floor finish: Creative Concrete Concept
Concrete floor finish: Creative Concrete Concept
Sustainability initiatives proved to be another challenge. While the courtyard filters light to the kitchen below, energy-efficient LED lighting has been installed throughout, and high-performance glazing helps to counter the issues associated with the southern aspect. The house also has photovoltaic cells, solar-coupled hydronic heating and domestic hot water, as well as thermal insulation throughout.
TELL US
What do you like best about this contemporary home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you like best about this contemporary home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A couple with their three small children
Location: Northcote, Victoria
Size: 320 square metres; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living space, home theatre and wine cellar
Architect: K2LD Architects and Interiors
Year completed: 2015
While this concrete, glass and timber house sits among what Lee describes as “an eclectic mix of immaculate Edwardian houses, mansions of yesteryear and newer complexes”, its contemporary form is still right at home in this location. “The owners wanted a house that fit within the streetscape,” says Lee. “It was important their home was both humble and unassuming, yet confident in its own identity.”